Los Angeles Court Will Not Allow Names of Archdiocese Officials To Be Redacted In Released Abuse Files

In 2007, the Catholic Archdiocese of Los Angeles reached a $660 million settlement with victims of clergy sexual abuse. The settlement also called for a release of confidential priest personnel files. (See prior posting.) Retired federal judge Dickran Tevrizian had been appointed to oversee the file release process, and he ruled that the names of all church employees, including top archdiocese officials, could be redacted to prevent the documents from being used to harass or embarrass the Church. Media organizations, however appealed that ruling to Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Emilie Elias. (LA Times 12/27/2012). Yesterday, according to the Los Angeles Times, Judge Elias agreed with the media and ruled that the names of high-ranking church officials may not be redacted from the documents. She also reversed Judge Tevrizian’s ruling that allowed redaction of the names of priests who had faced only one allegation of abuse.